Introduction

After nearly 20 years, the publication of this Second Edition of The Biology of the Laboratory Rabbit attests to its popularity within the scientific community as well as to the need to update an expanding database on the rabbit as a major species in laboratory investigation. The principal aim of this text is to provide a comprehensive and authoritative source of scientifically based information on a major laboratory animal species.

The text continues to emphasize the normal biology as well as diseases of the European (domestic) rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus, especially the New Zealand White breed, with occasional reference to other rabbit species (Sylvilagus sp.) and hares (Lepus sp.).

New topics have been added to this second edition in response to changing trends in biomedical research and product testing as well as to suggestions from readers.

New Chapters Included

- Anesthesia and analgesia
- Models in infectious disease research
- Models in ophthalmology and vision research
- Polyclonal antibody production
- Toxicity and safety testing
- Drug doses and clinical reference data